Journalists write "knowingly" on the situation in Israel without ever living here; without first hand knowledge of what it means to live in this tiny country in the midst of a rather unfriendly neighbourhood.
I write without vengeance, without hatred, just what I experience,the view from my veranda and the thoughts in my head.
My archive is available at www.lingomatics.com/Shabbatshalom/index.html

About Me

I am a freelance journalist living in Jerusalem. I strive to tell the truth as it is never seen in the media - the life of one Israeli trying to get along with everyone but not willing to deny her past nor her identity.

Friday, 29 June 2018

Shabbat Shalom from Royal Jerusalem

180629

June
the 29th 2018

Shabbat
Shalom dear friends. Where do I begin?

A
Prince called Wales came to Israel to see the people while a Princess went to
Wales to see her family!!!

I know
that a newsletter should start with the news so let's begin with the incredible
Royal visit to Israel. Prince William arrived in Israel to great excitement and
he most certainly did not disappoint. He visited the Prime Ministers home and
the Presidential home where he nodded in agreement when President Rivlin asked
him to convey a message of peace to Mahmoud Abbas; he visited Yad Vashem where
he laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame in the Hall of Remembrance; the Western
Wall, where he prayed and put a note into the cracks of the ancient stones; he
paid tribute at the grave of his paternal great-grandmother on the Mount of
Olives – Princess Alice of Greece was a Righteous Gentile; he laughed with
Netta Barzilai, walked on the beach in Tel Aviv where he learned about beach
ball and Matcott; he shook hands and smiled, and smiled and smiled clearly
enjoying every moment. Perhaps most importantly he made a beautiful speech at
the British Embassy event in Tel Aviv. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN-6WyS8G6Y

The
Jewish Agency is an essential part of Israel and Diaspora society working in
areas that encourage Jewish communities, teaches about Israel and provides
education and emissaries all over the world, ensuring the continuity of
threatened communities and bringing communities under threat for being Jewish
to Israel. The extent of the work done by the Jewish Agency and its
subsidiaries is enormous but too few know about it. A new and excellent leader
for the Jewish Agency was chosen this week. Isaac "Bougie" Herzog
understands the Diaspora, is not obsessed with self-promotion and truly cares
for the future of the Jewish people and Israel. Do not be fooled by his quiet
manner, he is a mover and shaker! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Herzog

Each
and every day at least 20 fields are burned, up to a distance of 40 kilometres
from the Gaza border. Why? Because destruction has become the way of life for
young Gazans who have been taught to hate not to live. This is a war of
attrition, a determined attempt to wear down those farmers who live near the
Gazan border. The strange part is that the "Salad Belt" a
particularly fertile and productive stretch of land along the Gazan border, was
offered to Yasser Arafat to provide more land for the Palestinians in Gaza. His
"people" went ot investigate and told him the land was unworkable and
he became very angry that Israel was cheating him. He clearly refused the
offer. Today the best salad vegetables of Israel are grown there. "Tseva
Adom", the eerie sirens announcing incoming missiles has broken many and
nights sleep on the kibbutzim. Attrition – wearing down, disintegration,
erosion, grinding down, a cruel and inhuman determination to break us. What
they do not understand is that they caused a broken society with no money to
feed their own people or provide a secure future. Hatred has broken them.

Former
Chief of Staff Benny Gatz, a fine man and future politician, has put forward a
proposition to encourage, perhaps to enforce, enlistment of both Haredi and
Arab Israelis into the IDF. The par in our society is glaring and must be
closed, from both points of view. Polarisation in both societies is negative to
both their future prosperity and a society of equal rights and equal contribution.
If they don't serve in the IDF they will not be chosen for prime jobs and will
be resented by those who served and lost dear ones. We must change the essential
parts of David Ben Gurion's declaration that have allowed sectors to avoid
responsibility.

Charles
Krauthammer passed away this week. A man of integrity and acute intelligence
who didn't just fight his physical disabilities he ignored them. Whether he was
in a television debate, always polite to his adversaries, or writing deeply
thoughtful articles each Friday, he was strong and able, never complaining. His
example to a world that gives upat the smallest curveball was immeasurable.
His wisdom will be sorely missed.http://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/394185-charles-krauthammer-a-mentor-for-the-ages

And so
to my incredible visit to the UK. I had two good reasons for going, actually
three, or four……. Okay many!!! The original reasons were the wedding of my
lovely nephew Adam to the love of his life, Joanne. The wedding took place in
the glorious setting of St. Donats Castle http://www.castlewales.com/donats.html
and the 80th birthday bash of my sister Doreen held in the equally beautiful Guyers
House http://www.guyershouse.com/home.php

I began
with my lovely London family, my son Gideon, daughter-in-law Stephanie and of
course Sammy, Olivia and Zachary. Shabbat dinner with them is always special and
not frequent enough. I am so proud when I hear Gideon sing Kiddush in his
strong baritone with everyone joining in. Steph makes me so welcome and I
cuddle the children as often as they let me, especially Sammy. I got to see
their latest projects and do lots of catch up. Gideon Stephanie and I then
drove down to Wales and to the wedding where, quite apart from the
celebrations, a rare and wonderful occurrence, all four Silver siblings
together. Eddie and Ray from Canada, me from Jerusalem, Doreen, Ronnie and
Sandie from Cardiff plus the extra joy of seeing Adam's sisters Sophie and Rhys
and Deborah and our cousin Lynne and her husband Mike. Very emotional. The
wedding was terrific, the scenery amazing the couple happy and the celebrations
exciting - and then I went back to Cardiff, to Claire and Steve's home for a
week of sightseeing with all the family – Penarth, St Fagans Castle and Museum,
the Cardiff Bay Complex, seeing old friends like Martin Greene and Truda Bell and
loads and loads of family time, especially with Alice and Seb, Claire and
Steve's grandchildren. I have to mention Claires incredible desserts. She works
full time, cares for Seb and Alice most of the time and still managed to
produce an amazing Friday night dinner and the dessert was to die for – a chocolate bombe, meringue filled with
vanilla ice cream, strawberry slices all set out beautifully on a slate for the
delectation of eye and appetite.

The
week flew by until the next big event. I cannot believe that my slim, beautiful
and lithe big sister is 80! 4 children, 9 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
We all set off for Guyers House where the screams and shouts of delight greeted
all of Doreen's children and grandchildren who came for the dinner and
overnight. Games on the lawns and photos, exploring the grounds and photos,
sitting and enjoying each other and even more photos and meeting the new members
of the family was, hmmmmm what was it? Family!!! It was amazing.

Back to
London with Gideon and Stephanie for an overnight then off to Luton airport and
home!! I managed to arrive before the hullabaloo of Prince Williams arrival and
was thrilled to see my beautiful husband waiting to take me home. He didn't
even mention that I was away for our 22nd wedding anniversary!!!!

So that
was my fortnight and now you know why I didn't want to sit at the computer and
break the joyful family time.

In an
hour we will travel to Tel Aviv to meet up with another family, a wonderful
famioy, the Gandels from Melbourne. We will visit the Tel Aviv Museum together,
eat lunch and exchange news and then Zvi and I will climb back to Jerusalem,
that emotive Aliyah to the City of Gold, for Shabbat at home.

Shabbat
Shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem. Winding our way back to
Jerusalem gave me the same thrill as it did on my first visit in 1963,
Jerusalem closer every metre. As I walked in the door from my UK sojourn, I
opened the blinds and saw Jerusalem before me in all her glory. Tears welled in
my eyes at her beauty. The View from Our Veranda is and always will be my joy.